May 31, 2022
SEC Proposes Amendments to Fund “Names Rule” and Proposes Amendments Concerning ESG Investment Practices
On May 25, 2022, the SEC proposed amendments to the fund “Names Rule,”1 (Names Rule Amendments) and, separately, proposed amendments to several rules and forms that would require additional disclosure for funds and advisers that consider environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors in their investment processes…
May 27, 2022
SEC Settles Charges with Broker-Dealer in Connection with Improper Switching of Variable Annuities
On May 25, 2022, the SEC announced that it settled charges against a registered broker-dealer (Broker-Dealer) in connection with improper switching or replacing of variable annuities for which it was a principal underwriter. Without admitting or denying SEC findings, the Broker-Dealer consented to, among other things, a finding…
May 25, 2022
SEC Settles Charges with Investment Adviser in Connection with ESG Misstatements and Omissions
On May 23, 2022, the SEC announced that it settled charges against an investment adviser (Adviser) in connection with misstatements and omissions about environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations in making investment decisions for certain mutual funds that it managed (Funds). Without admitting or denying SEC findings, the…
May 23, 2022
SEC Charges Investment Adviser and Three Portfolio Managers in Connection with Multibillion Dollar Securities Fraud
On May 17, 2022, the SEC charged an investment adviser (Adviser) and three former senior portfolio managers in connection with a scheme, conducted over several years, to mislead investors about the significant downside risks of a complex options trading strategy (Strategy) used in seventeen unregistered private funds (Funds),…
May 4, 2022
SEC Division of Examinations Issues Risk Alert on Investment Adviser MNPI Compliance Deficiencies
On April 26, 2022, the staff of the SEC’s Division of Examinations (Staff) issued a Risk Alert (Alert) regarding deficiencies observed related to Section 204A of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (Advisers Act) and Rule 204A-1 (Code of Ethics Rule) thereunder. Section 204A of the…
April 7, 2022
SEC Announces 2022 Examination Priorities
On March 30, 2022, the SEC’s Division of Examinations (Division) announced its 2022 examination priorities (Examination Priorities). The Division will focus on private funds, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investing, standards of conduct issues for broker-dealers and registered investment advisers (RIAs), information security and operational resiliency, emerging technologies,…
February 23, 2022
SEC Charges Founder of Registered Investment Adviser with Fraud
On February 17, 2022, the SEC charged the founder and former CIO (Founder) of a registered investment adviser (Firm) in connection with a scheme to artificially inflate the asset values and performance results of a mutual fund and a hedge fund that the Firm advised (Funds), in violation…
February 11, 2022
SEC Proposes Rules and Amendments to Enhance Cybersecurity Preparedness of Investment Advisers and Investment Companies
On February 9, 2022, the SEC approved a notice of proposed rulemaking (Proposal) that would establish new rules governing cybersecurity risk management. In particular, the Proposal would: require advisers and funds to adopt and implement written policies and procedures that are reasonably designed to address cybersecurity risks; require…
February 1, 2022
SEC Chair Gary Gensler Highlights Opportunities to Strengthen Cybersecurity Practices of Investment Companies and Advisers in Speech
In a recent speech at the Northwestern Pritzker School of Law’s Annual Securities Regulation Institute, SEC Chair Gary Gensler focused on cybersecurity policy at the SEC, including certain potential reforms to rules governing the cybersecurity practices of registered investment companies and advisers. For investment companies, investment…
December 17, 2021
SEC Proposes Amendments to Rule 10b5-1 and Enhanced Disclosures Relating to Rule 10b5-1 Trading Plans in Issuer Reports and Certain Section 16 Reporting Forms
On December 15, 2021, the SEC proposed amendments to Rule 10b5-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, relating to insider trading arrangements. The SEC indicated that the proposed amendments aim to address critical gaps in the SEC’s insider trading regime and to help shareholders understand when and…